- Thiago Almada, who already knows what it means to be a CONMEBOL Libertadores champion, made his international debut for River Plate in the Gran Conquista.
- The talented midfielder showed flashes of his quality against Independiente Santa Fe, fuelling the 'Millonario' faithful's hopes of lifting the trophy they last won in the 2014 edition.
Almada's arrival during the recent transfer window was, without a doubt, one of the most surprising pieces of business in Argentine football. His name, as a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, joined that of Nicolás Otamendi — the current captain — as one of the standout additions to a winter in which the Núñez side set themselves a clear objective: to once again become a force on the international stage.
Born in Ciudadela, Almada is just 25, but his outstanding ability propelled him to the highest level at an age when many players have yet to make their first-team debuts.
Early international steps with Vélez Sarsfield
That was how he came to shine at the age of 19 in his first CONMEBOL Sudamericana campaign with Vélez Sarsfield: he scored four goals and led the Liniers side all the way to the semi-finals, where they were beaten by Lanús.
The following year, in the ever-demanding CONMEBOL Libertadores, the dream came to an end in the Round of 16 against Barcelona of Guayaquil. The academy graduate scored twice in the Group Stage, but was unable to feature in the knockout phase after being called up for the Tokyo Olympics.
Glory with Botafogo: King of South America
After two years with MLS side Atlanta United, Almada joined Botafogo and made an immediate impact. He began his journey with the 'Fogão' in the Round of 16 and played a decisive role throughout their run.
In the quarter-finals, he scored away from home in the 1-1 draw against São Paulo and converted his penalty in the shoot-out. In the semi-finals, he scored against Peñarol before starting the 3-1 victory over Atlético Mineiro in the Final.
A statement signing for the 'Millonario'
Almada made his international debut for River in the famous sash shirt when he came on 16 minutes into the second half against Independiente Santa Fe, replacing Colombian Rafael Santos Borré.
With his street-football instincts on full display, he took responsibility for the ball and operated as a versatile presence across the pitch, linking up with his team-mates, giving his side an outlet and helping to break the Colombian side's press. The numbers immediately reflected his influence: he completed 95% of his passes (19/20), the highest pass-completion rate of any River player to attempt at least five passes in the match.
His status as a continental champion at club level and a World Cup winner with his national team is beyond question. Almada has returned to the place where he was forged with the ambition of challenging for major honours and becoming a decisive figure for one of the continent's giants.
